Posted on 05/27/2008 3:22:21 PM PDT by abb
DURHAM — Former District Attorney Mike Nifong will not be able to hide from a lawsuit in bankruptcy court, a federal judge ruled today.
The three exonerated lacrosse players who filed suit against the fallen prosecutor in October will be able to pursue their claims in federal civil court, Judge William L. Stocks ruled.
The ruling came more than a month after lawyers representing the players and Nifong presented their arguments in court.
Nifong was stripped of his law license and ousted from office last summer for his misconduct in the Duke lacrosse case.
Nifong was supposed to file a response to the players’ claims of malicious prosecution by Jan. 15. Instead, he filed for bankruptcy protection, listing potential debts of more than $180 million.
In late January, federal Judge James A. Beaty ordered that Nifong be dropped from the suit brought by Dave Evans, Collin Finnerty and Reade Seligmann, the three former Duke lacrosse players. The players fought phony gang-rape allegations for 13 months before the state attorney general declared them innocent of the charges against them.
Filing for bankruptcy puts any civil claims on hold while a bankruptcy judge sorts out the claims against the debtor.
Stocks said in his filing today that the bankruptcy court lacked the jurisdiction to hear the bulk of the players’ claims against Nifong.
In their lawsuit, the players allege that Nifong, the city of Durham, the DNA laboratory hired by Nifong and others associated with the case conspired to falsely charge them with gang-rape even though they knew that the allegations were “a total fabrication.”
anne.blythe@newsobserver.com or (919) 932-8471
ping
BURN his ASS!
):^(
Good! This case is the perfect example of an overzealous prosecutor abusing his powers of discretion.
I would hound the young “lady” until the end of her days as well. Garnish her welfare.
Combined with PC.
Has Nancy Grace ever admitted that she was wrong on this?
So all I would say to Mr. Nifong is this: "Hey man. Nice shot."
The players should just tell Durham that they will take 10% of their tax and grants revenue for the rest of their lives. It will be cheaper for the city in the long run.
No.
Nail the gang of teachers and administrators who condemned the innocents as well. Rip their tenure out from their worthless asses.
The guy belongs in jail. This was discrimination at its’ worst.
She never admits she was wrong, and she’s wrong about 90% of the time.
he should be in jail.
Hey Nifong, You are screwed for the rest of your pathetic little life.These players should run him into the ground and use this as a way to send the message about wrongful prosecution.Somebody from a less than well to do family may not be so lucky.Lets face it these guys were put through the ringer and but for the wealth their families have could have gone to jail for a long,long time.
very rarely do I root for a huge lawsuit but in this case I hope they WIN BIG TIME
didn’t the “lady” who made the allegations recently get a college degree (funded by Jesse Jackson?) SUE HIM AS WELL
I'm only guessing they wouldn't persue anything civil or criminal action against her because they feel she is incompetent, for the lack of a better term.
The city of Durham, Duke University, the DBM, ought to pay for these kids lives and lifestyles for the rest of they're existance!
Remember, it wasn't just Nifong that persued these charges others knew these kids were innocent.
They’ll be able to sue for certain Durham citizens’ reparations money that will be available when Obama enacts reparations into being!
Yes, from NCCU in Durham. Jackson did not pay, to my knowledge even though he said he would.
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